Monthly Archives: September 2017

Art students spread awareness and hope with The Memory Project

Over the past three years Mount St. Mary Academy art students in IB Art, Art III and Art IV have been creating portraits for children around the world in collaboration with The Memory Project. The nonprofit organization works with art students across the globe with the purpose of creating portraits for youth who have faced substantial challenges, such as neglect, abuse, loss of parents and extreme poverty. The portraits are sent to the children to help them feel valued and important, to know that many people care about their well being, and to act as meaningful pieces of personal history in the future.  For the students, it is an opportunity to creatively practice kindness and global awareness; they have provided portraits for children in Bolivia and Syria over the last few years.

 

In order to raise awareness of the Syrian war’s effects on children, seventy photographs of The Memory Project student artwork will be on display at the University of Wisconsin beginning September 21, 2017; two of the portraits in the exhibit were created by Mount St. Mary students Aryn Angyal and Meredith Muller.

 

If you happen to pass through Madison, Wisconsin, between now and November 19, please check it out!  For more information on the Memory Project click here.

    

Syrian portraits by MSM students on display at the University of Wisconsin: artwork by Meredith Muller (left) and Aryn Angyl (right)

 


 

 

 

 

MSM Junior Classical League helps victims of Hurricane Harvey and Irma

On September 23, 2017, 21 members of the Mount St. Mary Junior Classical League (Latin Club) and friends washed over 40 cars to raise money to help victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.  The club wanted a way to help provide relief and decided to sponsor something culturally appropriate yet fun.  Latin club president, Evelyn Nick, proposed the fundraiser to the administration, who then approved it.  All determined that Saturday the 23rd would be perfect since it was homecoming weekend and alumnae would be visiting the campus over the weekend.  One alumna, who is now a Latin teacher in Washington, D.C., stopped in to make her donation and think about the fun times in Latin class while she was at MSM. The event also drew in neighbors of Mount St. Mary who were happy to help the effort made for people hit so hard by the recent disasters.  God provided great weather for the event, and the students worked hard throughout the morning.  All proceeds ($1249) will go to the the “Texas Flood Relief” fund of Catholic Charities of Arkansas which is providing aid to victims of both Harvey and Irma.  

   


 

 

 

MSM Shows Mercy Spirit with a Day of Service

Mount St. Mary Academy students, faculty and administrators reported for work at 15 service organizations to “Make Mercy Real” on a day of service known as Mercy Day. Around the world, Mercy Day is celebrated to commemorate the day the school’s founders, the Sisters of Mercy, opened the first House of Mercy in 1827 to serve the sick and the poor in Ireland. Mount St. Mary Mercy Day activities included cleaning up parks, picking up trash, and helping out at schools, hospitals and organizations throughout Greater Little Rock who serve the poor and sick in our community.

 

2017 Mercy Day Service Site Assignments:

 

Access Schools – Breckenridge and Mississippi locations
Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Arkansas Foodbank
Calvary Cemetery
Camp Aldersgate
CHI St. Vincent
Easter Seals Arkansas
The Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock
Little Rock Compassion Center
Our House
Recycle Bikes for Kids
St. Joseph Center of Arkansas
St. Theresa Catholic School
Susan G. Komen

 


 

 

 

 

Alumnae Picnic Welcomes MSM Classes Back to Alma Mater

The 15th annual Mount St. Mary Academy “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” Alumnae Picnic welcomed more than 200 of the school’s graduates back to their high school home.  Alumnae representing classes from 1948 to 2012 gathered for school tours followed by dinner and fellowship. Alumnae perused yearbooks and alumnae merchandise and enjoyed the photo booth mementos, courtesy of LeMay Photography. Rosalyn Hastings, Class of 1948, was recognized for earliest class year and received the award with her daughter and granddaughter, both MSM alumnae. The Class of 1977, celebrating their 40-year reunion, won the coveted spirit stick for most classmates in attendance.

 


 


 

 

 

 

Chills & Thrills 5K on October 7 benefits MSM student programs

Mark your calendars and “Conquer the Hills” of the Mount St. Mary Academy Chills & Thrills 5K, benefiting extracurricular programs for all Mount St. Mary Academy students.
5K Run/Walk timed by Hudson Race Timing  (8 a.m.)
– Hilly course through the Hillcrest neighborhood with a “Nightmare on Elm Street”
– Prizes for male and female age groups and BEST COSTUMES
One-Mile Kids Fun Run  (9:15 a.m.)
– Monster Dash for ages 6-12 years with costumed monsters along the race route
– Obstacle Course at the end of the route
Mad Scientist Show and Activity Lab (10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.)
$15 No prior registration is required
($10 with Monster Dash runner’s bib and FREE with 5K and Monster Dash bibs)
– Mount St. Mary Mad Scientist duo demonstrations of mind-boggling experiments
– Hands-on activities like bubbling slime, tie dye bandanas and color-changing key rings
Family Fun and Food  (10:30 to Noon)
– Race snack bar for runners and festive brunch fare available for additional cost
– Yummy chicken and waffles specialty dish

 

This festive fall event on the Mount St. Mary campus is open to the community and guaranteed to be a scream!

 

Event schedule and sign-up: mtstmary.edu/chills-and-thrills

MSM Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist

Mount St. Mary Academy student Katie S. has been named a Semifinalist in the 63rd annual National Merit® Scholarship Program. She is among the 16,000 Semifinalists who represent the top one percent of the Class of 2018. Last fall, about 1.6 million juniors across the country entered the 2018 National Merit Scholarship competition by taking the PSAT qualifying test.

 

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $32 million that will be offered next spring, according to a news release from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

 

Grateful for the opportunity, Katie says, “It helps to see my hard work in academics has truly prepared me for life ahead, and it motivates me to continue working toward my goals in the future.”

 

Steps in the 2018 Competition

About 15,000 seniors will be announced as Finalists in February. To advance to the finals of the scholarship program, students must show a record of consistently high academic performance throughout high school while also earning SAT scores that confirm their earlier performances on the qualifying test. Their high school principal must also write a recommendation.

 

National Merit Scholarships

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2018. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 230 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria. In addition, about 190 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,000 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

Best of luck to Katie!

 


 

2017 CHS Homecoming Court Announced

Congratulations to the 2017 Catholic High School Homecoming Court!

 

Front Row (Left to Right): Macy J., Rockette Representative; Sydney C., Caroline J., Liza M., and Sydney W., Varsity Cheer Representative

 

Back Row (Left to Right): Rieves P., Lauren W., and Mallory W.

 

The Catholic High School Homecoming game will be Friday, September 22nd, at War Memorial Stadium with kickoff at 7 p.m. The Homecoming Ceremony will be held during half-time.

 

Go Rockets!
See Photos from 2017 Homecoming Pep Rally on the MSM Flickr page.

 

 

 


 

Opening Pep Rally Kicks Off Fall Sports

Mount St. Mary Academy held the Opening Pep Rally on August 30th to kick off fall sports — cross country, volleyball, tennis and golf — and start off the school year with a show of school spirit. Costumes, chants and a class theme for each grade level and a performance by the seniors united the student body as classes competed for the spirit stick at one the biggest pep rally of the year.

 

Freedom Freshmen, Superhero Sophomores, Holly Jolly Juniors, Slam Dunk Seniors, MSM spirit squads, athletic teams and Student Council kept the energy going and started the school year with a “Slam Dunk!”

 

Athletic Team Schedules may be viewed on the MSM School Calendar.

 

More photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHsm3JiQM7